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Lyrics & meaning

Kumurtha Kumma

From Vanangamudi – 1957 Film · 1957

Lyricist
Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass
Singers
Jikki, Chorus
Music director
G. Ramanathan
Details
Vanangamudi – 1957 Film1957

Lyrics & meaning

Tanglish lyrics English translation
Chorus
Humming…Humming...
Female
Yea…kumurtha kumma koiya pazham polaYeah... like a plump, ripe guava fruit,
Aiyaavum vantharo oiyaaram paarenHas sir arrived? Look at his graceful posture!
Veera dheera sooran engal raaja enga magaraajaA brave, courageous hero, our king, our emperor!
Veera dheera sooran engal raaja enga magaraajaA brave, courageous hero, our king, our emperor!
Yea…kumurtha kumma koiya pazham polaYeah... like a plump, ripe guava fruit,
Aiyaavum vantharo oiyaaram paarenHas sir arrived? Look at his graceful posture!
Female
Thanga pazham pole avar jolipaaruLook at him shine like a golden fruit!
Veerasingam pole yaaraiyum edhirpaaruWatch him face anyone brave as a majestic lion!
Chorus
Thaiyatha thiyatha Thaiyatha thiyathaThaiyatha thiyatha Thaiyatha thiyatha (rhythmic syllables)
Female
Thanga pazham pole avar jolipaaruLook at him shine like a golden fruit!
Veerasingam pole yaaraiyum edhirpaaruWatch him face anyone brave as a majestic lion!
Thanthanthaan thaalam pottuKeeping beat to the rhythm,
Thappu thaarai melam kettiPlaying the frame drums and loud trumpets,
Thanthanthaan thaalam pottuKeeping beat to the rhythm,
Thappu thaarai melam kettiPlaying the frame drums and loud trumpets,
Aadiduvom kondadiduvomWe shall dance, we shall celebrate!
Paadiduvom pallu paadiduvomWe shall sing, we shall sing a folk song!
Female
Kaatukulle kadavul theadi thanthaaruGod searched and gave him to us inside the forest,
Namma kootathukku etrapadi vanthaaruHe came, perfectly suited for our tribe!
Chorus
Thaiyatha thiyatha Thaiyatha thiyathaThaiyatha thiyatha Thaiyatha thiyatha (rhythmic syllables)
Female
Aambalainga PombalaingaMen and women,
Ellarum kumbidungaEveryone, bow and greet him!
Aambalainga PombalaingaMen and women,
Ellarum kumbidungaEveryone, bow and greet him!
Aadiduvom pan paadiduvomWe shall dance, we shall sing a musical tune!
Paadiduvom pallu paadiduvomWe shall sing, we shall sing a folk song!

Beyond the translation

Song interpretation

This festive song from the 1957 movie Vanangamudi is a celebratory folk dance performed by a forest tribe welcoming their hero and king. Expressing immense joy and reverence, the villagers compare the king's grandeur to a golden fruit and his valor to a ferocious lion. Accompanied by traditional folk percussion like Thappu and Melam, men and women join together in dance, thanking God for sending such a noble leader to their midst.

Writing craft

Poetic devices

Simile (Upamai)

Thanga pazham pole avar jolipaaru / Veerasingam pole yaaraiyum edhirpaaru

Comparison of the hero's radiance and bravery using 'pole' ('Thanga pazham pole' - like a golden fruit, 'Veerasingam pole' - like a brave lion).

Assonance and Rhyme (Monai and Ethirai)

Aambalainga Pombalainga / Aadiduvom kondadiduvom

Use of rhythmic rhyming words across lines like 'Aambalainga Pombalainga' and repetitive ending sounds in 'Aadiduvom', 'Paadiduvom', 'Kondadiduvom'.

Rhythmic Onomatopoeia

Thaiyatha thiyatha Thaiyatha thiyatha

Incorporation of traditional folk rhythm vocalizations ('Thaiyatha thiyatha') to set the dance cadence.

Did you know?

Trivia

Vanangamudi (1957) starred Sivaji Ganesan and Savitri, featuring timeless music by G. Ramanathan. Lyricist Thanjai N. Ramaiah Dass was renowned for writing evocative, rhythmic folk numbers ('Pallu' genre inspired) that captured the authentic colloquial flavor of rural and tribal Tamil Nadu.

Keep listening

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